Chapter 286
Chapter 286
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 286
Chapter Title: The Drunken Brewer
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The waiter headed toward the drunkard, but he couldn't stop glancing back at Hyeok Mulin nonstop.
Was this really the right call?
His eyes pleaded, hoping Hyeok Mulin wouldn't suddenly change his mind about summoning the drunkard.
But Hyeok Mulin's expression remained unchanged, showing no flicker of emotion.
Finally turning his head away, the waiter steeled himself.
'Yeah. As long as I get paid, that's all that matters. No need to worry about them.'
Introducing the drunkard and bringing him over was just fulfilling the deal for the silver.
What happened after that was their business, not his.
'Still, it's a bit scary.'
In truth, waiters at inns couldn't afford to treat drunken guests carelessly.
A respectable patron might be fine, but how could one know if the drunk was a violent martial artist?
If they forcibly ejected him only for him to return later seeking revenge, it could lead to far worse than mere hassle.
That's why this waiter had always just left most drunks alone, ignoring them.
But now that he'd taken the money...
He had no choice but to approach the drunkard and speak up actively—a first for him, so his nerves were on edge.
"Um... sir...?"
The waiter bent his knees slightly as he addressed the drunkard in a stammering voice.
The drunkard, who had been sitting on the floor staring at the ground, lifted his bleary eyes.
"Uhmm?"
The waiter broke into a cold sweat as he gazed at him.
Seeing this, the drunkard quickly understood and rose to his feet.
"Ah, right. Time to head back to my room."
He knew he'd sprawled out, causing a nuisance in his drunken state.
This must be someone asking him to behave and retire.
Thinking it was time to go upstairs and sleep, the drunkard turned toward the stairs.
But just then, the waiter grabbed him.
"Sir, that's not it. Some folks over there want to have a chat with you, so I've come to let you know."
"A chat with me?"
"Yes, that's right."
The waiter felt relieved that the man didn't seem to have a violent temper.
His voice grew a bit more relaxed as he explained.
Following the waiter's gesture, the drunkard glanced over at Hyeok Mulin's table, then soon set off in that direction.
Heading back to his room now would just mean tossing and turning to suppress the emptiness—nothing more.
Deep down, he wanted to grab anyone and pour out his frustrations.
And so, the drunkard approached the table where Hyeok Mulin and Cheon Sumyeong sat, plopping down into a chair.
In a slightly slurred voice, he spoke up.
"I heard you were looking for me."
Hyeok Mulin simply gazed at him quietly.
His face had a rough edge from the stubble, but it seemed honest and simple, with calloused hands to match.
After studying him, Hyeok Mulin responded by ordering from the waiter.
"Bring another cup."
"Right away!"
Once a cup was set before the drunkard, Hyeok Mulin lightly poured him some liquor.
The drunkard gulped it down the moment the cup filled.
"Kuh...!"
Hyeok Mulin refilled the empty cup, then set the bottle down.
Watching this, Cheon Sumyeong shot Hyeok Mulin a look.
'Is this guy really the one?'
From what Hyeok Mulin had said, this drunkard was supposedly the man they sought.
But no matter how he looked at him, he just seemed like your typical annoying drunk rolling around any old inn.
Hyeok Mulin returned the gaze.
'We'll find out starting now.'
Was the resemblance mere coincidence?
Or was he truly the one?
Even so, Hyeok Mulin asked no questions.
He simply refilled the cup when empty, cleared empty plates, added fresh snacks, and pushed them over.
About two hours later, the drunkard—thoroughly soused again—finally spoke up.
"You've been staying here a while, but your faces are new. You from out of town?"
"That's right."
"Same as me, then. I only got to Jeongyang recently myself. Though I originally lived in Shanxi Province."
"Then what suddenly brought you here?"
"Well, that..."
Hoo—
The drunkard let out a deep sigh before slowly opening up.
"Truth is, I'm a brewer running a small distillery."
Before he knew it, he'd naturally fallen into introducing himself and his plight, following Hyeok Mulin's lead.
His name was Bi Jangho.
Son of a brewer who ran a modest distillery in a village in eastern Shanxi Province.
Recently, his father had passed, leaving him the distillery and making him a true brewer—a fresh-faced young man.
Was it from sampling all sorts of liquors under his father? Or his innate talent?
Even though he'd only been at it a short while, the liquor he brewed earned rave reviews from the villagers.
Buoyed by the praise and growing confidence, he made up his mind.
"I decided to enter the competition for the Great Manju Brew Festival."
Of course, only one brewer from Shanxi Province could participate in the Great Manju Brew Festival amid countless rivals.
Slim odds, but he held onto hope and brewed diligently.
For the Shanxi Liquor King Contest—the local showdown for the festival entry slot.
After grueling effort, he completed his entry for the contest and arrived in Jeongyang.
He'd paid for an extended stay at this very inn.
Then...
"One day, tragedy struck out of nowhere."
After dinner, returning to his room, he couldn't believe his eyes.
The bed in disarray.
Chests flung open, window gaping wide.
Thieves had broken into his room.
His heart sank. Without hesitation, he rushed to his bundle.
Money, clothes, gear—fine, steal it all.
But not that.
With trembling hands, he unpacked the bundle and checked inside.
In that instant, he let out a scream of despair.
"I'd brought just one bottle for the contest, and it was smashed to pieces."
Bi Jangho's face twisted at the memory, on the verge of tears even now.
After that, half-resigned, he started cornering inn patrons, rambling away the hours.
"You headed to the Great Manju Brew Festival too?"
"Same here? Then are you brewers as well?"
Hyeok Mulin shook his head.
"Not competing as brewers—just going to enjoy the liquors."
"Must've gotten an invite. Congratulations."
Bi Jangho offered a feeble toast.
But in truth, Hyeok Mulin had no invite, nor was he there to drink.
He was heading to meet the Manju Conference Chairman—one of the Three Liquor Emperors, the Liquor Tyrant.
As Bi Jangho bowed his head unknowing, Hyeok Mulin spoke.
"Did all the liquor spill out?"
"I scraped what was left under the shards into another bottle, but it's not enough for the contest. Barely a couple sips."
A couple sips.
Hyeok Mulin pondered briefly, then asked.
"In that case, could I taste your liquor?"
"Hmm...?"
Bi Jangho's eyes widened at the sudden request.
"Liquor that won't make the contest anyway. Mind if I have some?"
"Well, of course..."
He reflexively started to refuse but trailed off.
Thinking it over, there was no reason not to.
Liquor was brewed to be savored by others with care. Better to give it to this kind stranger than let it go to waste without competing.
Sorting his thoughts, he slowly stood.
"Wait just a moment."
Stumbling up the stairs, he soon returned with a bottle.
He handed it to Hyeok Mulin.
Hyeok Mulin shook it.
As promised, scant liquor sloshed inside despite the bottle's size.
He poured half into his own cup, then the rest into Cheon Sumyeong's.
As Cheon Sumyeong eyed him with the cup in hand, Hyeok Mulin said.
"You try it too."
"......"
Cheon Sumyeong looked down at his cup, then slowly brought it to his lips.
The aroma was decent—a sweet floral scent.
But plenty of liquors had good noses alone.
A liquor's true worth lay in its taste.
Cheon Sumyeong sipped slowly, savoring it.
And in that moment...
"......!"
He couldn't help but marvel.
Cheon Sumyeong drank all kinds of liquor without discrimination, but that didn't mean his palate was dull.
Far from it—his tongue, seasoned by countless top-shelf spirits, was exquisitely refined.
Even he couldn't hide his astonishment.
What he'd tasted wasn't liquor, but a single sweet flower petal.
He whipped his head around to stare at Hyeok Mulin.
Hyeok Mulin smiled faintly, certain of his choice.
A young man barely into inheriting his father's distillery, brewing something like this.
It rivaled the masters' finest without a single flaw.
At that age and experience, only one genius in the world could brew such liquor.
The brewer whose single sip washed away all worldly woes.
'Master Wangwoo.'
No one else.
"W-what do you think?"
Bi Jangho had never shared his brew with outsiders before.
Not even a contest, but his heart raced anyway as he forced calm and asked their verdict.
Hyeok Mulin slowly set down his cup and spoke.
"If you'd brought this, you'd have won the Shanxi Liquor King Contest hands down."
"I agree. Hands down the best I've tasted lately."
"...Thank you."
Bi Jangho's chest swelled at their praise.
'Yeah. This is enough.'
No contest entry, but he'd met people who appreciated his work.
That fluttering in his heart suggested he just wanted folks to enjoy his liquor and smile.
As Bi Jangho wiped teary eyes, Hyeok Mulin spoke.
"Such a shame."
"...?"
"Talent like yours, unable to compete."
"Can't be helped. My own carelessness caused it."
Hyeok Mulin pondered alone, then asked.
"When's the Shanxi Liquor King Contest?"
"Four days from now."
"Four days."
Hyeok Mulin nodded.
"Plenty of time."
"...Huh?"
Bi Jangho blinked in confusion.
"No liquor? Brew more."
Bi Jangho let out a hollow laugh.
They must not be brewers—unaware of the long process involved.
Bi Jangho explained simply.
"Impossible. With just four days left, no ingredients or space."
No ingredients or space.
Hyeok Mulin shot back.
"So if those two were sorted, you could brew it?"
"Uh... time's tight, but maybe... somehow."
"Good enough."
Hyeok Mulin stood.
"Follow me."
He and Cheon Sumyeong left the inn.
Glancing back at trailing Bi Jangho, he said.
"I'll solve that problem right now."
Ingredients for brewing, a space, anything.
At that moment, Bi Jangho had no inkling.
That a once-in-a-lifetime stroke of fortune—and an investor for life—had just descended upon him.